10 Jul 2005 @ 15:42, by Raymond Powers
National Fair Trade Protests to Coincide with Premier of "Charlieand the Chocolate Factory
There is Nothing Magical About Child Labor!
Help Promote Fair Trade at Screenings
of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory In Your Town
Starting July 15, 2005
When Tim Burton's summer blockbuster "Charlie and the Chocolate
Factory" opens July 15th, all eyes will be on the real chocolate
industry and their response to continuing child labor abuses
on cocoa farms in the Ivory Coast.
A peak behind the sourcing practices of companies like Mars,
Hershey and Nestle -- maker of the Wonka Whipple Scrumptious
Fudgemallow Delight -- reveals not a magical candy forest,
but a real human tragedy as children as young as nine continue
to toil under unimaginable conditions on West African cocoa farms.
The films release comes at a pivotal moment in the discussion
about the real chocolate industry's response to child slavery
on cocoa farms. July 1st 2005 marks the final deadline for the
industry's voluntary protocol on child slavery. After four years
of foot dragging, it is clear the chocolate industry has failed
to live up to its commitments under the protocol and once again
the possibility of binding legislation is on the table.
Join Global Exchange, International Labor Rights Fund, United
Students for Fair Trade, the Canadian Fair Trade Network and
Peace Diviners International in making the most of the occasion
by organizing a creative action to promote fair trade in your
town, July 15th!
Hand Out "Make My Wonka Bar Fair Trade" Leaflets
Work with area theaters to set up regular tabling events or
leaflet screenings of the films with our fabulous full color
"Make My Wonka Bar Fair Trade" leaflets. The leaflets call upon
Nestle USA -- maker of the fabled Wonka Bar and one of the
largest importers of cocoa from the Ivory Coast, to do right
by the characters in the film and go fair trade. To order
leaflets please send your name, address and phone number to
jamie@globalexchange.org or call 415-575-5538 or download
and reproduce your own online at:
[link]
Stage a Creative Action to Get Media Attention for Your Event
Dress up like the characters from the film or create giant
Wonka Bar visuals to add color and energy to your action. The
film and book provide myriad hooks for your group to formulate
its own songs and chants the virtues of fair trade and why
Willy Wonka and our hero Charlie might suggest that the major
chocolate companies be thrown down the shoot for not living up
To their responsibility to end child labor on cocoa farms. You
can use our Oompa Loompa songs and chants or write your own!
For more creative ideas and to share yours with us and others
visit:
[link]
Talk About Fair Trade at Your Summer Camp or Youth Group
Teachers, counselers and youth group leaders! This is a terrific
Opportunity to introduce your kids to activism and an easy and
fun way to talk about where their chocolate comes from. Global
Exchange has myriad resources for teachers and other educators
to talk to their children about fair trade and empower them to
help their peers on cocoa farms around the world. Whether you
are reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in your classroom,
Taking a group of kids to see the film or just looking for a way
to get out of the sun and into the cool theater this summer, our
fair trade materials for kids can help you make the most of the
experience. Fair trade lesson plans, teaching materials and
action guides for children of all ages are available online at:
[link]
Can't Make it to the Film? Write, Call and Email Nestle from Home!
Global Exchange has set up a fax action for folks who can't make
the actions to send a message to Nestle CEO, Joe Waller from the
comfort of their own homes. Have a wireless laptop? Then you can
do it from your lawn chair! Take a second to send a fax to Mr.
Waller right now and let him know that we aren't satisfied with
Nestles efforts to end child labor to date and insist they take
the problem seriously by switching to fair trade. You can use our
sample letter or write your own!
[link]
For more information on how to get involved or to order "Make My
Wonka Bar Fair Trade" postcards please contact Jamie Guzzi at
Global Exchange, 415-575-5538 or email Jamie@globalexchange.org.
For more information on the dates and times of screenings of
"Charlie andthe Chocolate Factory" in your town please visit:
[link]
---
Jamie Guzzi
Fair Trade Cocoa Campaigner
Global Exchange
jamie@globalexchange.org 415-575-5538
www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade
2017 Mission Street #303, San Francisco, CA 94110
Support Fair Trade today by visiting Global Exchange's
Fair Trade stores. On-line and retail in San Francisco,
Berkeley, and Portland www.globalexchange.org/store
Global Exchange is a non-profit research, education, and
action center working for political, economic, environmental,
and social justice on a global scale. We work to increase
international awareness among the U.S. public emphasizing
struggles for peace, justice, and equality while building
meaningful international partnerships.
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